Some figured it out, but thousands fell for it. Regular Jane’s and Joe’s around the worlNone of it was real. Realistic, sure, but definitely not real.

Some figured it out, but thousands fell for it. Regular Jane’s and Joe’s around the world, possibly the only chick drummer from Namibia, bands, literary agents, newspaper editors and more all wanted a piece of Gary Benchley.

He wasn’t real though. Gary Benchley was simply a figment of blogger/essayist Paul Ford’s imagination. A personal challenge turned into life dream realization in the form of a faux rock star occasional blog-posting apparition.

Soon after, Gary’s life was collected and poured into Ford’s debut novel "Gary Benchley, Rock Star." Beginning with Albany, New York hipster Gary graduating from college, desperate to rock out. He loves his “moms” but hates his hometown, so he does the only logical thing left to do: he moves to New York City and vows to rock more and enter less data.

What he finds, though, is that the real world doesn’t facilitate much in terms of rocking and prefers more of the data entry option. Sure, he ends up moving to hipster-heaven — Williamsburg, Brooklyn — secures a decent job and relationship and even manages to put together possibly the most diverse band in the history of music with a record contract, but Gary’s life in NYC continues to slip deeper into the pits. Ever the optimist, Gary presses on, making all efforts to "accentuate the rock, and mitigate the suck."

I’m a sucker for books that relate to rocking, in any way, shape or form, so there was no way I would pass this one up. The cover sent off warning bells screaming "pretentious alert," which I have to say, did throw me off. His know-it-all ‘tude and allusions to indie pop culture which only “those in the know” could ever dream of understanding prompted me several times to consider giving up on the book.

The conversational first-person narration was big draw for me and really added to the illusion of realism that caught so many other people. Another benefit to the narration is the maturation you can sense in Gary’s speech and behaviour as the book progresses.

Additionally, the plethora of supporting characters coloured what would have been a bleak picture. Ford gives each character their own little quirks ranging from the pessimistic gay synth player, the ever-depressed girlfriend, the chick drummer who Gary lusts over, the black journalist from Blender who happens to play bass, the tantric first roommate and accompanying girlfriend too name a few.